A prosecutor with the Italian FA Is “not convinced” by the explanation given by Francesco Acerbi regarding his alleged racial abuse of Juan Jesus.
This according to today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper La Stampa, via TuttoMercatoWeb.
The investigation to the alleged use of a racial slur by Inter and Italy defender Acerbi against Napoli’s Jesus during a Serie A last weekend is ongoing.
Giuesppe Chine of the Italian FA prosecutors’ office is heading up the investigation.
Chine has now spoken with both Acerbi and Jesus to get their respective versions of events.
La Stampa confirm that both players stood by their stories. Acerbi insists that he did not use a racial slur, and that Jesus misheard him.
Meanwhile, the Napoli player has been vehement that Acerbi did indeed use the racially discriminatory language.
Italian FA Prosecutor “Not Convinced” By Francesco Acerbi Explanation
La Stampa report that Acerbi spoke to Chine for around an hour in a video call yesterday.
The Italian FA prosecutor questioned the 36-year-old about the circumstances of the incident between he and Jesus.
Acerbi was asked in particular why he had decided to apologize to Jesus, if he had not in fact used a racial slur towards the Brazilian.
Chine wanted an explanation why the player would apologize for something he hadn’t actually said.
The Inter defender claimed that he wanted to quickly get past the incident.
And Acerbi’s explanation of why Jesus had made the accusation of a racial slur being used is that he had used an expression saying he would “make [Jesus] black.”
However, Chine is skeptical. The prosecutor did not find this claim to be overly convincing.
This may not bode well for Acerbi as far as the outcome of this case.
Now Chine will review any other evidence that he can find.
And then, there will be a verdict sometime next week.
Inter defender Acerbi faces the prospect of a suspension of at least ten matches if Chine finds that he is guilty of having racially abused Jesus.
